Liquid injection adaptor

ABSTRACT

A resiliently yieldable adaptor having a bore therethrough is provided with a liquid manifold passage at the inlet end thereof having a progressively diminishing depth to effect uniform flow of liquid through radial passages leading into the bore. Means are provided at the inlet end of the adaptor to insure centering of the hose coupling attached thereto.

United States-Patent [191 Breunsbach Jan. 29, 1974 1 LIQUID INJECTIONADAPTOR [75] Inventor: Maurice C. Breunsbach, Hamburg,

[73] Assignee: Spirolet Corporation, North Tonawanda, NY.

[22] Filed: Apr. 18, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 352,193

Related US. Application Data [52] US. Cl 239/401, 239/416, 239/417,239/489, 239/602, 137/604, 259/151 [51] Int. Cl. B05b 7/10, F161: 19/00[58] Field of Search 239/398, DIG. 19, 399, 401, 239/403, 405,407, 416,416.5, 417, 417.3, 487, 489, 569, 576, 602; 259/151; 137/604, 605

2,075,867 4/1937 Sampel 259/151 2,124,989 7/1938 Smith 259/151 2,661,19412/1953 Katovisich 259/151 2,690,901 12/1954 McCormack 239/DIG. 192,793,080 5/1957 Brown et a1. 239/602 3,104,826 9/1963 239/417 X3,226,036 12/1965 259/151 X 3,470,826 10/1969 137/604 X 3,540,47411/1970 Sharples 137/604 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 603,8691/1926 France 239/398 1,170,934 9/1958 France 239/398 224,075 1 1/ 1924Great Britain 251/151 518,776 3/1940 Great Britain 251/151 PrimaryExaminer-Robert S. Ward, Jr. Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Conrad Christel eta1.

[ 1 ABSTRACT A resiliently yieldable adaptor having a bore therethroughis provided with a liquid manifold passage at the inlet end thereofhaving a progressively diminishing depth to effect uniform flow ofliquid through ra- [56] References Cit d dial passages leading into thebore. Means are pro- UNITED STATES PATENTS vided at the inlet end of theadaptor to insure center- 37 I 158 0/1887 wright 1 37/604 ing of thehose coupling attached thereto. 1,784:503 12/1930 Swann 239/399 X 15Claiim, 5 Drawing Figures l 60 I 74 3 (F8 t M 52 f 56: & W

1 LIQUID INJECTION ADAPTOR CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS Thisapplication is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 247,207,filed Apr. 24, 1972 and application Ser. No. 266,393 filed June 26,1972, now US. Pat. No. 3,743,187. Application Ser. No. 247,207 is adivision of application Ser. No. 7747, filed Feb. 2, 1970, now Pat. No.3,692,243, and application Ser. No. 266,393 is a continuation ofapplication Ser. No. 77,880, filed Oct. 5, 1970, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a liquid injectionadaptor and, more particularly, to a liquid injection adaptor used inconjunction with nozzles for cement guns used in handling cementitiousmaterials.

During the passage of dry cementitious materials pneumatically blownthrough a cement gun discharge nozzle, water is introduced transverselyinto the stream of dry material and mixed therewith to form a wetcementitious material which issues through the nozzle as a high velocitystream to be directed upon a background surface. Often, the means forintroducing the liquid into the stream of dry material comprises anadaptor connected to the inlet end of the nozzle and interposed betweenthe latter and a hose coupling connected to a conduit for conveying thedry material from a suitable source. Generally, the adaptor is providedwith an annular manifold connected to a liquid inlet and communicatingwith radial passage means extending circumferentially about the adaptorbore for injecting the liquid radially under pressure into the stream ofdry material. The dry material should be uniformly wetted throughout inorder to obtain an optimum mix. However, a problem sometimes arises inuniformly wetting the dry material because of the varying flow of liquidthrough the radial passage means. Also, axial misalignment of thecoupling relative to the adaptor can vary the flow of liquid injectedinto the stream of dry material.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the presentinvention to provide an improved liquid-injection adaptor having novelliquid flow control means to insure uniform wetting of the dry materialspassing through the adaptor.

It is another object of this invention to provide the foregoing liquidinjection adaptor with means centering the associated coupling relativeto the adaptor.

The liquid injection adaptor of the present invention is characterizedby the provision of an annular manifold groove of progressivelydiminishing depth to insure a uniform flow of liquid therefrom throughradial passages into a stream of dry material for uniformly wetting thelatter. A series of equally and circumferentially spaced ribs formed onand integral with an annular shoulder on the adaptor are engagable withthe outer together with the accompanying drawings wherein likereference'characters denote like parts throughout the various views.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of aliquid injection adaptor of the present invention, shown mounted betweena nozzle and a material conveying conduit;

FIG. 2 is an end view, on an enlarged scale thereof, looking in thedirection of arrows 22 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view, on an enlarged scale, takenabout on line 3-3 of FIG. 1, an end portion of the nozzle being brokenaway for ease of illustration;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view, on an enlarged scale, takenabout on line 44 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view, on an enlarged scale, showing ahose coupling connected to the inlet end of the adaptor of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENT Referring now indetail to the illustrative embodiment depicted in the drawings, there isshown in FIG. 1 a liquid injection adaptor, generally designated 10,constructed in accordance with this invention, and shown attached at oneaxial end thereof to a hose coupling l2 and attached at the other axialend thereof to a nozzle 14. Hose coupling 12 is connected to a conduit16 through which dry cement ingredients from a suitable source (notshown) are conveyed by a blower (also not shown) in a manner known inthe art. Such material is forced under pressure through conduit 16, hosecoupling 12, adaptor 10, and into and through nozzle 14. Liquid, usuallywater, is added to the dry material by means of a pipe 18 connected intoadaptor 10. The dry material and water are intermixed to produce a wetcementitious material which is directed through nozzle 14 and outwardlytherefrom onto the desired surface.

As shown in FIG. 3, nozzle 14 comprises an elongated hollow body 20formed of a suitable elastomeric material and having a generallycylindrical outline but slightly tapered toward the discharge end. Body20 is provided with an inlet end 24 and an outlet end 26 (FIG. 1), theinlet end 24 being externally threaded as at 28 for threaded engagementwith adaptor 10. Two pairs of diametrically opposed lugs 30 and 32 areformed on the outer surface of nozzle 14, integral therewith, forfacilitating thegrasping and handling of nozzle 14.

Nozzle 14 is provided with an axial bore, generally designated 34,having a first chamber 36 at the inlet end 24, an elongated,intermediate mixing chamber 38, and an outlet chamber (not shown). Bore34 tapers uniformly from the inner end of chamber 36 to the outer end ofthe outlet chamber. This gradual taper tends to choke the cementitiousmix as it is conveyed outwardly through nozzle 14 to minimize spreadingof such mix and to constrain the projecting stream within the desiredpath.

A double helical thread formation, generally designated 40, defines theinner wall surface of mixing chamber 38 to effect a thorough mixing ofthe mix passing through bore 34. Each helix formation 40 comprises aprojection 42 and a groove 43 separated by a curved, sloping shoulder44. Projection 42 is provided with a leading face 46 and a trailingshoulder 48 interposed between projection 42 and shoulder 44. A sandhook or undercut 49 is formed at the juncture of groove 44 and leadingface 46 of projection 42. Nozzle 14 is of the type disclosed and shownin application Ser. No. 266,393 filed June 26, 1972, supra, and assignedto the same assignee as the present invention, and reference may be hadthereto for a more detailed description and operation of nozzle 14 andthe significance of.

the specially configurated thread formation 40, including projection 42,shoulder 44, sand hook 49, etc. This specially configurated formationfacilitates the thorough blending of the dry cementitious ingredientswith the water while efficiently controlling the degree of turbulencegenerated in the nozzle to produce a consistent and thorough mix. Itshould be understood, however, that adaptor of this invention is notrestricted for use with the specific nozzle 14 illustrated in FIG. 3,but can be used in conjunction with any type of nozzle, including metalnozzles.

In accordance with this invention, adaptor 10 is composed of aresiliently yieldable elastomeric material, preferably urethane, whichis wear and abrasion resistant and sufficiently rigid so as not todeform under the pressure employed to convey the dry ingredientstherethrough. However, any suitable resiliently yieldable material ofsufficient durometer and density, can be used in lieu of urethane, ifdesired. Adaptor 10 is of a unitary, one-piece construction and can beof any convenient size suitable for a particular application.

Adaptor 10 comprises a hollow body 50 of a generally curved or roundedoutline having an axial bore 52 and an enlarged diameter internalthreaded inlet opening 54 (FIG. 3) at one end for receiving a suitablehose coupling, such as shown at 12 in FIGS. 1 and 5. The other or outletend of adaptor 10 is provided with a threaded opening 55 for receivingthreaded portion 28 of nozzle 14. Inlet opening 54 terminates in anannular end wall 56 which serves as a seat for coupling 12 and outletopening 55 terminates in an end wall 57 serving as a seat for thethreaded end portion of nozzle 14.

An annular recess or groove 58 extends axially inwardly of end wall 56,providing a liquid manifold and defining an inner, collar-like wallportion 60 having an end face 62 lying in a generally common transaxialplane with end wall 56. End face 62 is beveled to form an inclined wallor shoulder 64 which also serves as a seat for a portion of hosecoupling 12 and is provided with a plurality of generally radiallyextending teeth or ribs 65 thereon for a reason that will hereinafterbecome apparent. An annular recess 65 extends axially inwardly of endwall 56 in substantial parallelism with manifold groove 58 and providesa relief for accommodating radial expansion of the resiliently yieldablematerial in the area of end wall 56 upon compression of the same by hosecoupling 12 threaded into opening 54. An annular bead 68 is formed onend wall 56 between annular recesses 58 and 66 to engage and provide afluid tight seal against the abutting end of hose coupling 12, as shownin FIG. 5.

An annular metal reinforcing ring 72 is embedded in body 50 betweenthreaded opening 54 and the outer surface of body 50 and serves toreinforce and rigidify the inlet end of adaptor 10. Reinforcing ring 72is provided with an open mesh for receiving the plastic materialtherethrough to form a mechanical interlock therewith and has aplurality of circumferentially spaced lugs 74 struck out from the innerend of ring 72 and extending radially inwardly therefrom to properlyposition ring 72 within body 50 during the formation thereof by asuitable molding process.

A boss or projection 76 extends radially outwardly from body 50 and isprovided with a tapped opening 78 for receiving pipe 18 (FIGS. 1 and 2)connected to a suitable source of liquid (not shown). Opening 78communicates with a radially extending passage 82 leading to manifoldgroove 58.

In use, adaptor 10 is threaded on nozzle 14 until end wall seat 57 ofadaptor 10 firmly engages the nozzle inlet end face. Hose coupling 12 isthen connected into threaded opening 54 until the coupling end face(FIG. 5) is seated against sealing bead 68 of adaptor 10 as shown inFIG. 5. An internal flange or boss 92 projects axially from end face 90of coupling 12 and has an outer wall surface 94 overlying shoulder 64and inclined inwardly at an angle corresponding to the angle of inclinedshoulder 64. With end face 90 in initial abutting engagement withsealing bead 68, surface 94 rests against the outer surfaces or ribs 65and is slightly spaced from shoulder 64 to form a series of annularpassages 96 defined between ribs 65 and leading into bore 52. Also, thespacing between coupling end face 90 and the adaptor end face 62 formsan annular communicating passage 98 between manifold groove 58 andpassages 96. Thus, water or other liquids can be directed radiallyinwardly into bore 52 via tapped opening 78, manifold groove 58, andpassages 98 and 96.

During the blasting operation, a cement mixture in dry powder form isforced under pneumatic pressure through conduit 16, hose coupling 12,bore 52 of adaptor 10 and through the bore of nozzle 14. Simultaneously,a liquid, such as water, under pressure is introduced into bore 52through pipe 80, opening 78, manifold 58 and passages 98 and 96. Thewater is mixed with the cement particles passing through bore 52 inadaptor 10 to form a wet cementitious admixture. Thread formation 40 ofnozzle 14 imparts a spiral twisting or rifling motion to the admixtureto thoroughly intermix the ingredients and obtain the proper consistencyand density. The rifling motion becomes progressively shallower towardthe outlet end 26 of nozzle 14 and provides a choking action, the resultof which is an efficiently controlled stream of cement emulsion directedat a high velocity against a background surface with relatively littlerebound and relatively no dust contamination of the ambient atmosphere.

A significant feature of the liquid injection adaptor of this inventionis the liquid flow control means located at the inlet end thereof whichis effective to vary the rate of liquid flow therethrough and also toinsure flow under a uniform pressure at the selected rate to uniformlywet the dry ingredients passing through adaptor 10. To this end,manifold groove 58 varies in depth progressively from a maximum atliquid inlet passage 82 to a minimum at a point diametrically oppositeinlet passage 82, as best seen in FIG. 3. Groove 58 is provided with aninclined bottom wall 100 which tapers progressively inwardly toward theinlet end of adaptor 10 from a maximum depth at inlet passage 82 to aminimum depth at a point from passage inlet 82. It has been found thatin adaptors having annular manifold grooves of constant depth, theportion of liquid flowing therefrom at a point remote from the region ofliquid ingress flows under a lesser pressure than that portion, adjacentthe region of liquid ingress. Accordingly, in such constant depthannular manifolds, the rate of flow of the liquid injected into the borefrom the remotely. located point is considerably less than therate offlow adjacent the inlet, resulting in nonuniform wetting of the dryingredients. It has been found that the tapering, progressivelydiminishing groove depth feature embodied in the present inventionmaintains manifold groove 58 completely filled with liquid throughoutits circumferential extent, i.e. the liquid fills manifold groove 58 atthe region thereof located remotely from the liquid inlet as readily asat the inlet region, to effect a constant flow of liquid at a uniformrate through passage 98 and through all of the passages 96 radially intothe adaptor bore 52, thereby insuring uniform wetting of the drymaterial passing axially through bore 52. Also, the equally,circumferentially spaced ribs 65 on inclined shoulder 64 positivelycenters the coupling inclined surface 94 relative to inclined shoulder64tomaintain the sizes of passages 96 equal in depth further insuringuniform radial flow of the liquid therethrough into adaptor bore 52.

At the initial stage of the blasting operation, the nozzle operator canthread coupling 12 relative to adaptor in such a manner as to obtain anoptimum water flow pattern. If the material issuing from nozzle 14 istoo wet, coupling 12 is threaded further into opening 54 to compressbead 68 and ribs 65 thereby decreasing the size of passage 98 andpassages 96 to restrict the flow of water therethrough. Annular reliefrecess 66 will accommodate the expansion of material in the area of endwall 56. If desired, the flow of liquid through passages 98 and 96 canbe completely interrupted by still further threading coupling 12 intoopening 54 to an extent closing passages 96. If the issuing material isnot sufficiently wetted, coupling 12 can be threaded outwardly ofopening 54 to enlarge passages 96 and 98, as required. These adjustmentsare made quickly and easily by the operator who need only rotatecoupling 12 with one hand while holding nozzle 14 with the other. TheHow of the liquid remains uniform at the selected rate throughout thecircumferential extent of manifold groove 58 due to the progressivelyvarying groove depth effected by the tapering bottom wall 100 ofmanifold groove 58 as hereinbefore described. Thus, a sensitive watercontrol means is provided to produce a highly controlled cementitiousmaterial with very little rebound and dust.

While nozzle 14 and coupling 12 can be formed of the same material adadaptor l0, e.g. urethane or any other suitable resiliently yieldablematerial which is highly resistant to the abrasive action of thecementitious material passing therethrough and to the generation ofstatic electricity normally accompanying such passage, it should beunderstood that adaptor 10 can be used with nozzles and couplings formedof any material, such as metal for example, which are widely used inindustrial applications.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that the objects of the presentinvention have been fully accomplished. An improved liquid injectionadaptor is provided for effectively controlling the flow of liquid at auniform rate into a stream of dry material to uniformly wet the latter.A preferred embodiment of this invention having been described indetail, it is to be understood that this has been done by way ofillustration only.

I claim:

1. An adaptor comprising: a body formed of a resiliently yieldableplastic material having a bore therethrough, an inlet end and an outletend; a threaded opening communicating with said bore; an annularwallextending radially inwardly from the wall of said threaded openingtoward said bore and having at least a portion thereof defining a seat;an inlet passage in said body; an annular manifold passage of a varyingsize for effecting a selected uniform rate of liquid flow therethrough;said manifold passage being spaced radially outwardly of said bore andcommunicating with said inlet passage; said annular wall and said seatdefining flow control passage means adjacent said inlet endcommunicating between said manifold passage and said bore.

2. An adaptor according to claim 1 wherein said manifold passageprogressively diminishes in size away from said inlet passage.

3. An adaptor according to claim 1 wherein said manifold passage has atapering wall to effect a progressively diminishing cross sectional areathereof away from said inlet passage to effect a selected constant rateof flow of liquid therethrough.

4. An adaptor according to claim 1, said seat including an inclinedshoulder having means centering the conical surface of a hose couplingthreadable in said opening.

5. An adaptor according to claim 4 wherein said centering meanscomprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced ribs formed on saidshoulder and defining therebetween a series of passages communicatingwith said bore, said series of passages being variable in size uponcompression of said ribs to vary the rate of delivery of liquidtherethrough.

6. An adaptor according to claim 1 wherein said flow control passagemeans includes means provided on said seat defining a series of passagescommunicating with said bore, said series of passages being variable insize upon axial compression of said inlet end to vary the rate ofdelivery of liquid therethrough.

7. An adaptor according to claim 6 wherein said passages defining meanscomprise a plurality of ribs on said seat whereby compression of saidribs toward said seat varies the size of said passages.

8. An adaptor according to claim 7 wherein said series of passages areinclined inwardly from said annular wall to said bore in the directionof said outlet end.

9. An adaptor according to claim 7, together with a hose couplingthreaded in said opening and urged against said ribs to compress saidribs and thereby vary the size of said series of said passages.

10. An adaptor according to claim 6 wherein said flow control passagemeans included an annular passage communicating between said manifoldpassage and said series of passages, said annular passage being variablein size upon axial compression of said inlet end.

11. An adaptor according to claim 10 including an annular head on saidannular wall outwardly of said manifold passage, said bead forming anannular seat, said passages defining means comprising a plurality ofribs on said first mentioned seat, together with a hose couplingthreaded in said opening and urged against said annular bead to form afluid tight seal therebetween, said head and said ribs yielding undercompression upon further threading of said coupling into said inlet endand a bore, a liquid injector adaptor having an inlet end and an outletend and a bore therethrough, said adaptor receiving said nozzle at saidoutlet end, a hose coupling for delivering cementitious material to saidadaptor, said adaptor receiving said coupling at said inlet end, passagemeans adjacent said inlet end of said adaptor for connecting the borethereof to a source of liquid, said passage means including at least onepassage variable in size upon axial compression of said adaptor inletend by said coupling.

1. An adaptor comprising: a body formed of a resiliently yieldableplastic material having a bore therethrough, an inlet end and an outletend; a threaded opening communicating with said bore; an annular wallextending radially inwardly from the wall of said threaded openingtoward said bore and having at least a portion thereof defining a seat;an inlet passage in said body; an annular manifold passage of a varyingsize for effecting a selected uniform rate of liquid flow therethrough;said manifold passage being spaced radially outwardly of said bore andcommunicating with said inlet passage; said annular wall and said seatdefining flow control passage means adjacent said inlet endcommunicating between said manifold passage and said bore.
 2. An adaptoraccording to claim 1 wherein said manifold passage progressivelydiminishes in size away from said inlet passage.
 3. An adaptor accordingto claim 1 wherein said manifold passage has a tapering wall to effect aprogressively diminishing cross sectional area thereof away from saidinlet passage to effect a selected constant rate of flow of liquidtherethrough.
 4. An adaptor according to claim 1, said seat including aninclined shoulder having means centering the conical surface of a hosecoupling threadable in said opening.
 5. An adaptor according to claim 4wherein said centering means comprIses a plurality of circumferentiallyspaced ribs formed on said shoulder and defining therebetween a seriesof passages communicating with said bore, said series of passages beingvariable in size upon compression of said ribs to vary the rate ofdelivery of liquid therethrough.
 6. An adaptor according to claim 1wherein said flow control passage means includes means provided on saidseat defining a series of passages communicating with said bore, saidseries of passages being variable in size upon axial compression of saidinlet end to vary the rate of delivery of liquid therethrough.
 7. Anadaptor according to claim 6 wherein said passages defining meanscomprise a plurality of ribs on said seat whereby compression of saidribs toward said seat varies the size of said passages.
 8. An adaptoraccording to claim 7 wherein said series of passages are inclinedinwardly from said annular wall to said bore in the direction of saidoutlet end.
 9. An adaptor according to claim 7, together with a hosecoupling threaded in said opening and urged against said ribs tocompress said ribs and thereby vary the size of said series of saidpassages.
 10. An adaptor according to claim 6 wherein said flow controlpassage means included an annular passage communicating between saidmanifold passage and said series of passages, said annular passage beingvariable in size upon axial compression of said inlet end.
 11. Anadaptor according to claim 10 including an annular bead on said annularwall outwardly of said manifold passage, said bead forming an annularseat, said passages defining means comprising a plurality of ribs onsaid first mentioned seat, together with a hose coupling threaded insaid opening and urged against said annular bead to form a fluid tightseal therebetween, said bead and said ribs yielding under compressionupon further threading of said coupling into said opening to vary thesize of said annular passage and said series of passages.
 12. An adaptoraccording to claim 11 wherein said seat is provided with an annularrelief recess therearound.
 13. An adaptor according to claim 1 whereinsaid resiliently yieldable material is urethane.
 14. An adaptoraccording to claim 1 wherein said body is of a unitary, one-piececonstruction.
 15. In combination with a nozzle for directingcementitious material therethrough, said nozzle having an inlet end anda bore, a liquid injector adaptor having an inlet end and an outlet endand a bore therethrough, said adaptor receiving said nozzle at saidoutlet end, a hose coupling for delivering cementitious material to saidadaptor, said adaptor receiving said coupling at said inlet end, passagemeans adjacent said inlet end of said adaptor for connecting the borethereof to a source of liquid, said passage means including at least onepassage variable in size upon axial compression of said adaptor inletend by said coupling.